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Thursday, April 18, 2019

Deeply Rooted



EPHESIANS 3:17-19 (KJV) 
17 THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS BY FAITH; THAT YE, BEING ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE, 18 MAY BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND WITH ALL SAINTS WHAT IS THE BREADTH, AND LENGTH, AND DEPTH, AND HEIGHT; 19 AND TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST, WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE, THAT YE MIGHT BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD.


Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by old things and the stories they tell — whether it’s through antiquing and imagining the stories an old treasure can tell, or digging through old family photos and asking a million questions about them. I simply just want to know. I yearn to know the stories our ancestors could tell. I imagine what they could have experienced during the times they lived in and what the world was like back then.
It simply boils down to roots.
What can I trace my heritage back to? Where did I come from? What trials did my ancestors face? These roots mold us into who we are and how we live.
The Bible often compares us to trees or plants. Roots are essential to the life of plants, just like roots are essential to us.
Roots are absolutely necessary if we are to have life in the same way that a walk with God is vital to our spiritual life and growth in Him. The way in which we nurture and care for our walk with God is a direct result of the closeness we share with Him.
Our life is just like a garden, and Jesus is the head gardener. He must constantly weed out the impurities, the distractions, and the things that can take over our space and destroy us. Without good roots, we wither and die.
Roots also help to anchor a plant in the same way that God anchors our life in times of trouble. Through the pouring rain and howling wind, a tree is not concerned because it knows that it has deep and strong roots that can withstand the storm. In the same sense, we will not fear the storms that may come into our lives when we know and walk with the One who controls and has power over every storm.
I want to encourage each of you readers to take some time today and strengthen your roots. It is vital for us to have a strong and deep relationship with God daily.
Also, please feel free to leave a comment to share any of your favorite heritage or ancestry stories down below! I’d love to read them. ❤
XOXO,



*This blogpost first appeared on daintyjewellsblog.com *

Saturday, April 6, 2019

An Original



“TO BE YOURSELF IN A WORLD THAT IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO MAKE YOU SOMETHING ELSE IS THE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT.” –RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Never before has a generation been bombarded on all sides with pressures more than today’s generation. That’s you and me, sister! There is a pressure surrounding everything we do — from what career path you choose, to how you dress, to what you stand for. There are pressures to conform who we really are, pressures to be politically correct, and pressures to bend here a little and there a little.
The accessibility of social media has only amplified the intensity of comparison and will sometimes magnify our focus on what we lack and what we are not. We can easily get caught up in the comparison game of those perfect squares before our eyes.
We truly have to fight against these pressures to keep what makes us true originals and not faded copies.
Romans 12:2 KJV: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
I am certain that we all have a God-given purpose, and you cannot allow your thoughts and your mind to get in the way of that being fulfilled. We have to renew our minds and keep God’s will fresh in our thoughts.
Over time, a copy will begin to disintegrate, fade, and eventually, crumble. It is after all just a copy, and not the real thing. A true original will hold its true colors and retain its shape even if it is battered, since it is made of a stronger substance.
Jesus has chosen you from the beginning to be the real deal, so don’t waste any time trying to be a copy of something else! If we focus on keeping God’s love readily available and are quick to share it with those around us, we will be showing the original love of Christ everywhere we go. 

XOXO,




* This blog first appeared on daintyjewellsblog.com *

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Little Letters: Sarah P. Duke Gardens Edition



I am all for fun, easy, and FREE date ideas. A walk in the garden is about as romantic as it gets! (Hellooo Jane Austen) I love exploring beautiful winding paths in full bloom, birds chirping, the warm sun on your face and the rustling of the wind in the trees. Good company is obviously a must in this setting. 

This weekend Preston and I were able to visit Sarah P. Duke Gardens once again. The first time we visited the gardens we were a newly dating couple. This visit brought back a lot of nostalgic memories and made for a lovely afternoon. All of the beautiful flowers were in full bloom, and the weather you ask? Perfectly warm! The first glimpse that spring is really actually coming. 

If you have never visited Duke Gardens I do recommend a nice sunny spring day. The blooms are amazing, and everything is coming to life. The downside to this of course, is that it will most assuredly be crawling with people in every direction snapping baby shots, engagement shots, you name it. We actually witnessed a proposal AND a wedding. All in the short span of an hour and a half. 

If you would like to know any outfit details, I have added the links below. 

Enjoy the fun pictures!






















XOXO,